What we learned from the Chicago Bulls' 109-118 loss to the Brooklyn Nets
The Chicago Bulls could not get even with the Brooklyn Nets, losing in their second meeting this season via a 118-109 decision on Sunday night.
Here are a few takeaways from the two teams’ second of three meetings this season.
Solid start, awful finish
Chicago failed to sustain its hot start as it made just 12 three-pointers after converting eight in the first quarter that enabled them to lead by as many as 21 points.
The Bulls could not make up for their cold-shooting performance in the succeeding periods when they also failed to guard the perimeter.
Chicago allowed Brooklyn to finish the match with a season-best 25 three-pointers.
“Obviously 25 3s is a lot of 3s. It’s hard to overcome when a team makes 25 3s. Give them credit. They were shots that they made through good ball movement, good offense by them to find those other shots that we probably didn’t communicate well enough and didn’t contest well enough. So (it) probably lies somewhere in the middle there. I know there’s a lot more that we could have done,” Chicago coach Billy Donovan said.
Wasted opportunity
The Bulls also failed to capitalize on the Nets’ manpower woes. The Nets played without Nic Claxton(sprained left ankle), Ben Simmons (impinged left lower back nerve), Cam Thomas (sprained left ankle), and Dennis Smith Jr. (sprained lower back). Cam Johnson also left the game prematurely due to right leg cramping.
The bulls are currently in a spiral and look like one of the worst teams in the league which is a cause for alarm and players need to improve their play if they want to compete on a higher level.